Close to Home

This Foster Care Awareness Month, we recognize the importance of supporting young people as they transition out of foster care and into adulthood. Stable housing, strong support systems, and community connections can make a lasting difference in helping youth build a path forward.

Through collaboration across our homeless response system, partners continue working to strengthen resources and create better outcomes for youth in our community. The Alliance to House Everyone Youth Subcommittee plays an important role in these efforts by bringing partners together to identify gaps, improve coordination, and advocate for solutions that support youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Every young person deserves stability, opportunity, and a safe place to call home. 💙

🎉 Happy 5-Year Workiversary to Dacey "DW" Werba!

For the past five years, DW has played an instrumental role in advancing collaborative solutions to homelessness across San Antonio and Bexar County. Her thoughtful leadership, strategic mindset, and deep commitment to community partnerships have helped strengthen system planning, governance, and engagement efforts throughout the region.

Beyond her work, DW’s encouragement, compassion, and dedication to both the mission and the team continue to make a meaningful impact every day. We are incredibly thankful for all she brings to Close to Home and proud to celebrate this milestone together!

Happy 2-Year Anniversary, Marcie!

Over the past two years, Marcie has made a meaningful impact through her compassion, dedication, and commitment to serving our community. As our SOAR Lead and Outreach Coordinator, she has helped strengthen connections to SSI/SSDI resources, expand access points for those we serve, and bring healthcare-focused conversations to the forefront of outreach efforts.

Marcie has also worked with the Outreach and Access Subcommittee to better understand the needs of individuals who cannot meet Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and helped highlight important quality-of-life concerns, including keeping people and their pets connected through initiatives like Buddy Bundles.

Her passion for compassionate, innovative care continues to make a lasting impact on our team and community. Thank you, Marcie, for all you do!

Close to Home is proud to welcome Jane Paccione to its Board of Directors. Jane is the Managing Director of Collective Impact at the San Antonio Area Foundation, where she leads SALSA – Successfully Aging and Living in San Antonio, a cross-sector initiative focused on improving systems and quality of life for older adults across Bexar County.

Jane brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, systems collaboration, and community impact. She previously served as President and CEO of Ride Connect Texas, expanding transportation access for older adults and people with disabilities, and continues to support the community through leadership roles with disABILITYsa and the San Antonio Housing Trust.

Close to Home is honored to have Jane’s leadership and expertise supporting its mission across San Antonio and Bexar County.

Close to Home is proud to welcome Melissa Cabello Havrda to its Board of Directors. A native San Antonian, attorney, educator, and public servant, Melissa brings years of leadership experience across government, community engagement, and public policy.

Melissa previously served as the San Antonio District 6 Councilwoman, where she chaired several City committees and became the first Latina Chair of both the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the San Antonio Fire and Police Pension Board. In addition to her public service, she is a practicing attorney, small business owner, and longtime supporter of local nonprofit and community initiatives.

Close to Home is honored to have Melissa’s leadership and commitment to the San Antonio community supporting its mission across San Antonio and Bexar County.

Close to Home is proud to welcome Stephanie Medellin to its Board of Directors. Stephanie is a staff attorney with the Family Law Clinic at the Center for Legal and Social Justice at St. Mary’s University School of Law, where she represents clients in family law matters and teaches trauma-informed practices.

Throughout her career, Stephanie has focused on expanding access to legal services and supporting vulnerable communities. She previously led St. Mary’s Law’s Pro Bono Programs and supervised the Identification Recovery Program at Haven for Hope, helping individuals experiencing homelessness obtain critical identification documents and legal assistance.

Close to Home is honored to have Stephanie’s experience, compassion, and dedication to community service supporting its mission across San Antonio and Bexar County.

🏠 Housing affordability shapes the strength, stability, and future of our entire community. Join the City of San Antonio for upcoming community conversations to learn how the voter-approved 2022 Affordable Housing Bond is supporting housing across our community. Share your feedback, ask questions, and help shape future housing priorities. Spanish and ASL interpretation will be available.

Close to Home is proud to welcome Connie Belciug to its Board of Directors. Connie is committed to helping strengthen and elevate San Antonio’s coordinated homeless response system through collaboration, transparency, and community-driven solutions.

With first-time homelessness continuing to rise in the community, Connie is passionate about building stronger systems that help prevent homelessness before it begins. Her vision for Bexar County is one where every child, family, older adult, and person with a disability has access to stability, support, and housing opportunities.

Close to Home is honored to have Connie’s leadership and dedication supporting its mission across San Antonio and Bexar County.

Close to Home is proud to welcome Scott Ackerson, LMSW, as Vice President of its Board of Directors. A nationally recognized leader in homelessness systems planning, housing strategy, and human services reform, Scott brings more than 30 years of experience helping communities strengthen homelessness response systems and improve outcomes for individuals and families experiencing housing instability.

Scott has advised cities, counties, states, and Continuums of Care on evidence-based approaches to homelessness prevention, coordinated entry, and permanent housing solutions. A longtime Chair of the Alliance Advisory Board, Scott recently transitioned into an elected Board seat and now serves as Board Vice President, bringing years of leadership and system expertise to the role.

Close to Home is honored to have Scott’s leadership supporting its mission across San Antonio and Bexar County.